Delay-action exploder



May 15, 1923.

E. CUDNEY DELAY ACTION EXPLODER Filed Nov. 3, 1920 I N VEN TOR.

EL/VE/P CUD/VEX A TTORNEY Patented May 15, 1923.

PATENT OFFICE.

ELMEB CUDNEY, OF STEGE, CALIFORNIA.

DELAY-ACTION EXPLODER.

Application filed November a, 1920. Serial 1m. 421,488.

To all whom it may concern: v

'Be it known that ELMER CUoNEY, citizen of the United States, residing at Stege, in the county of Contra Costa and State of California, has invented new and useful Improvement in Delay-Action Erploders, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a delay action exploder, of the type shown in my original application, Serial No. 349,866, filed January 7th, 1920, and of which the present application is a continuation in part.

It is common practice to set off explosive charges by delay action fuses, the interyal of time being designated by the expression delay action accompanied by a numeral usually ranging from one to ten. It is thus possible to insure that a number of charges may be set off in succession and counted, so that a predetermined numberof charges may be identified and the certainty of explosion ascertained. In carrying out this practice it is usual to assemble a spitter shell, a desired length of fuse and a fulminating cap, after which this exploder is imbedded within one of the sticks of dynamite to be exploded, thus insuring that the exploder will be maintained in a water proof condition, and that it may be easily ignited. There is often however, an ignition of the explosive charge within the spitter shell at the opposite end of the exploder and not within the fulminat-' ing cap. When this takes place two explosions are liable to occur simultaneously, thus making it impossible to tell whether or not all of the explosions have taken'place, and thereby rendering further work dangerous. It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a delay action exploder which may be imbedded Within a charge of dynamite or other explosive, there maintained in a water proof condition, and so constructed as to insure that electrical igni tion of a charge within a spitter shell must cause ignition of the fuse only, and this in turn'produce the ignition of the fulminating charge in the cap, thus eliminating prematare explosions.

The present invention contemplates the use of a fuse having a central core ofigniting material, and carrying a fulminating cap at one end and a spitter shell at its opposite end, said spitter shell being so designed as to securely hold an initial ignition charge in proper relation to an electrical bridge theren, and in position. over the end of the fuse, at the same time providing for a satisfactory v escape of the products of combustion from the spitter shell without suflicient heat to directly ignite the main explosive charge.

The invention is illustrated by way of example by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in central longitudinal section, showing the exploder positioned within a stick of dynamite.

Fig. 2 is a view in section and elevation showing the bridge unit of the electrical conductors.

Fig. 3 is a View in elevation showing the electrical conductors and the manner in which the bridge is secured at the ends thereof.

Fig. 4 is a view in section and elevation showing a modified form of the invention used to ignite combustible liquids.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 10 indicates a stick of dynamite which is covered with a wrapper 11. This wrapper, it will be understood, is treated to be impervious to moisture. A portion of the wrapper is cut away to form a hinged cover 12 along one side of the stick, after which a groove is dug in the dynamite to form the recess 13,within which the delay action exploder, or time fuse 14, is positioned. The portion 12 of the cover is then placed back crimped a fulminating cap 17, and at the and tied by strings 15, or other suitable fasopposite end of which a spitter shell 18 is crimped. The time fuse and fulminating cap are of common construction. The spit-Q ter shell, however, is of special design and constitutes an enlarged tubular body portion 19 drawn at one end to form a restricted neck 20 into which the time fuse is criinped.

A large exploder capsule 21 is seated within the body portion adjacent the neck 20. This capsule is preferably transparent being made of gelatin or celluloid and is formed in two parts so that it may be easily removed. The lower end of the capsule has an ignition opening 22 directly in registry sule 21 to permit the escape of gas of combustion.

The electrical conductors 23 and 24 are insulated throughout most of their length, and have bared ends which extend through the perforations in the end of the large capsule and terminate at a point near theignition opening 22. The terminating ends of the conductors are formed with the V shaped groove 26, more clearly shown in Fig. 3. These grooves are provided as a seat for a bridge 27, which is properly secured to the ends of the two conductors and spans the gap there between and soldered, as shown more elearly in Fig. 2. This bridge is preferably of platinum, and of a sectional area and resistance to be readily heated, and thereby ignite a quantity of explosive paste, meal powder and guncotton disposed around these terminals and indicated at 28.

The terminals and the explosive there around are enclosed by a small capsule 29. This capsule has a firing opening 30 in. its lower end disposed in registry with the firing opening 22 of the large capsule. In the top ortion of the small capsule is formed of the plurality of ventopenings 31, and other openings through which the bared terminals of conductors 23 and 24 may extend. In this manner the charge 28 may be permanently held in intimate contact with the bridge 25 and over the care of the fuse 16, thus insuring a certainty of fire, and at the same time protecting the'bridge from breaking and the charge from displacement.

When ignition of the explosive charge 28 takes place considerable gas will be generated by the. combustion. Thisgas must be allowed to escape at a sufliciently low temperature to eliminate possibility of .directly igniting the surrounding dynamite. A filter plug 32 is therefore provided to partially stop the opened end of the spitter shell and to allow a slow filtration of the gases therethrough, in a manner to insure that they shall be properly cooled. v

- This plug is cylindrical inshape, being intended to fit snugly within the spitter shell, and is provided with an annular groove 33 around its central portion to allow circulation of gas. The plug is further formed with a central cavity 34 in com, munication with the groove 33 through ducts 35. It is also to be understood that the same purpose might be accomplished by spinning a protruding bead in the spitter shell around the plug to obtain an annular groove 33, having the same functions as shown in the drawings. Vent openings 33' are formed through the sides of the spitter shell and .communicate with the groove 33, so that the gascan pass therethrough. Attention is directed to the fact that the vents in the plug are positioned above the vents in-the shown as filled with asbestos fabric 38,

which surrounds the conductors 23 and 24,

while permitting them to pass through the outlet openings in the end of the lug.

The mouth of the spitter shell s preferably formed with a series of beads by which annular grooves are made within the shell. These grooves serve' as bonds for a sealing mate-rial 39, which material ispreferably virgin rock sulphur melted and poured into place. This material is used due to its well known water proofing qualities, which would preventmoisture from seeping into the shell.

The assembled exploder iscovered with a jacket 40, preferably made of rubber, or other protective material, thereafter being covered with a coat of some water proofing solution. In this manner the exploder may be preserved for considerable time while entirely submerged in water.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the electrical conductors 23 and 24 are fitted with the same large and small capsules 21 and 29, as used in the and restricts the gas sufiiciently to permit it to cool as it escapes through vent openings 44, and break the covering 45. The member 43 is here shown as of asbestos fabric, while the covering 45 is preferably paper.

WVith this form of invention-it is possible to ignite hydro carbon fuel in smudge pots and to ignite any other liquid at a remote point from the control switch-or blasting machine.

It is desirable to hold the two electrical I conductors in fixed relation to each other.

This is done in some instances by twisting the wires, as shown in Fig. 2, and at other times by securing the wires in fixed relation to each other by a clip 46 as shown in Fig.3.

In operation of the resent invention the v exploders are assemble with" the fuse meatr 1 any desired length to agree with the standard delay action desired. The fulminating cap is then crimped on the bottom end and the spitter shell crimped at the opposite end. This shell will, of course, have been previously assembled. This is done by preparing the electrical conductors, then passing them through the tops of the large and small capsules. The explosive charge 28 is then passed within the top of the small capsule after which the bottom of this capsule is put on and then the bottom of the large capsule. These assembled members are then inserted into the spitter shell and brought to seat against the restricted neck portion thereof. The filter plug is either before or afterwards strung onto the conductors, and then fitted within the shell with its annular groove 33 in registry with the vent openmite and thereafter tie it in place and in condition to be practically impervious to moisture. The conductors 23 and 24 may be led to a control board blasting machine at any distance, and an electric current established through them at will.

When an electric current is established through the conductors the bridge 27 will be heated and the explosive charge 28 ignited. This charge will directly fire through the openings 22 and 30 and ignite the end of the fuse core after which combustion will take place throughout the length of the fuse and finally set off the fulminating cap. When the charge 28 is first ignited the gas generated Will pass out through the small capsule 29, through the vents 31, and will then pass from the large capsule through the vents 35. The gas will then pass into the cavit 34 of the filter plug and finally ass out t rough. the vent openings 33'. the pressure of this gas is usually suificient to burst the cover 40, which is disposed over the openings 33'.

It will thus be seen that by the invention here disclosed it is possible to ignite an explosive charge with any desired delay action,

.and to'furthermore insure that the charge 1 will be ignited even though the exploder is positioned within water or in other damp and unfavorable locations.

While I have shown the preferred form ofimy invention, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts, without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure Patent is:

1. delay action exploder including a fulmlnating cap, a fuse secured to one end thereof, a container for an ignition charge of explosive, a second container inclosing the first named container to form a combustion chamber, a spitter.shell having one and closed inclosing said containers and secured to the fuse, electrical exploding means extending into the spitter shell and-into the first na'medcontainer, and a filter plug between the said containers and the closed end of the spitter shell, and means to circulate the gases of combustion from the inner container through the filter plug.

2. A spitter shell consisting of an outer tubular casing having one end closed, electrical exploding means extending into the end of said shell, an initial explosive container secured around the end of the electrical igniter, a second container enclosing the first-named container to form a combustion compartment, a filter .plug between said second container and the closed end of the spitter shell, and means to circulate the gases of combustion from the inner container through the filter plug.

3. The combination with a time fuse of a spitter shell secured at' one end to the time fuse, a pair of electrical conductors extending through the end of the shell and having an electrical resistance bridge at their terminals, a capsule within which said terminals are enclosed and enclosing a charge of explosive material in contact with the bridge, said capsule having vent openings in its end, a second capsule enclosing the first-named capsule and forming a surrounding combustion compartment, and also having vent openings, a moisture-resisting means closing the end of the spitter shell through which the conductors pass, said spitter shell having vent openings in its side walls between the exterior capsule and the end closure, and filtering means between said members.

4. An electrical exploder including a pair of electrical conductors, an explosive charge containing capsule within which the terminals of said conductors are located, said terminals having grooves in their ends, a resistance bridge connecting said grooves and located in contact with the explosive charge, and a second ca sule enclosing the first-named capsule to orm a combustion chamber, said capsules having registered firing openin in their ends.

5. The com ination with a fuse a tubular metallic shell membersecured at one end thereto, an inflammable substance contained within said shell for igniting said fuse, a plug member for closing one end of the shell and for forming a compartment within the by Letters shell to receive the inflammable substance,

- filtering material within said chamber and the shell after it has passed throught the filtering material.

6. In combination with a fuse a tubular metalic shell positioned over and secured to oneend thereof, filtering material disposed within the shell and spaced from the end of the fuse to form a chamber, a, lug closingthe opposite end of the shell, inflammable material disposed adjacent the end of the fuse and within said chamber, electric means for producing the i nition thereof, and normally closed vents in the wall of said shell to permit the escape of gases generated by the inflammable material after it has passed through the filtering medium.

7. In combination with a fuse a tubular metallic shell positioned over and secured to one end thereof, an ignition chamber. formed within the shell adjacent the fuse,

a plug closing the opposite end of the shell, inflammable material within the ignition chamber, electric ignition means therefor,

normally closed vent openings in the side of the shell, and baffle means intermediate my hand in the presence of two subscribinp witnesses.

ELMER CUDNEY. Witnesses:

T. B. CRAWFORD, JANE CRAWFORD. 

